U.S. patent application number 15/029612 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-15 for ultrasonic atomizer for aseptic process.
This patent application is currently assigned to PEPTRON INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is PEPTRON, INC.. Invention is credited to Ho Il CHOI, Joon Sik KIM, Jin Woo LEE, Ju Han LEE, Dong Pil WON.
Application Number | 20160263612 15/029612 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50649586 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160263612 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Joon Sik ; et
al. |
September 15, 2016 |
ULTRASONIC ATOMIZER FOR ASEPTIC PROCESS
Abstract
An ultrasonic atomizer for maintaining a constant temperature of
an ultrasonic vibration generating unit by decreasing a temperature
at the periphery of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit even
under an environment in which the ultrasonic vibration generating
unit is exposed to a high temperature is provided. The ultrasonic
atomizer includes: an ultrasonic vibration generating unit which
generates ultrasonic waves and atomizes a spray material; a nozzle
unit a heat exchange unit which cools heat generated from the
ultrasonic vibration generating unit; and a housing which has heat
exchange chambers, where the heat exchange chambers include: a
vortex chamber which is positioned in the housing at the periphery
of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit and guides a vortex
flow; and a thermal insulation chamber which surrounds the vortex
chamber and has a separation wall which abuts the vortex chamber,
and includes an internal thermal insulation space.
Inventors: |
KIM; Joon Sik; (Daejeon,
KR) ; LEE; Ju Han; (Daejeon, KR) ; WON; Dong
Pil; (Daejeon, KR) ; LEE; Jin Woo; (Daejeon,
KR) ; CHOI; Ho Il; (Daejeon, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PEPTRON, INC. |
Daejeon |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
PEPTRON INC.
Daejeon
KR
|
Family ID: |
50649586 |
Appl. No.: |
15/029612 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
August 19, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2014/007658 |
371 Date: |
April 14, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 17/06 20130101;
B05B 17/0653 20130101; F28F 13/10 20130101; B05B 17/063
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B05B 17/06 20060101
B05B017/06; F28F 13/10 20060101 F28F013/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 17, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0124096 |
Claims
1. An ultrasonic atomizer comprising: an ultrasonic vibration
generating unit which generates ultrasonic waves and atomizes a
spray material; a nozzle unit which includes a spray flow path in
which the spray material moves along a central axis that penetrates
a center of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit, and includes
a nozzle tip which is supplied with the spray material from one end
of the spray flow path, and sprays the spray material from the
other end of the spray flow path; a heat exchange unit which
surrounds the ultrasonic vibration generating unit and cools heat
generated from the ultrasonic vibration generating unit; and a
housing which surrounds the ultrasonic vibration generating unit
and the heat exchange unit, and has a plurality of heat exchange
chambers therein, wherein the plurality of heat exchange chambers
include: a vortex chamber which is positioned in the housing at the
periphery of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit, and guides a
vortex flow; and a thermal insulation chamber which surrounds the
vortex chamber, and has a separation wall which abuts the vortex
chamber, and includes an internal thermal insulation space, the
heat exchange unit includes a cooling portion which cools the
outside of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit, and the
cooling portion includes a vortex flow forming unit which has one
end exposed to the outside of the housing and the other end
positioned in the vortex chamber in the housing, and a cooling tube
which guides spray of the cooling air into the ultrasonic vibration
generating unit.
2. The ultrasonic atomizer of claim 1, wherein a height of a lower
central portion of the housing is greater than a height of a lower
peripheral portion, and a lower portion of the ultrasonic vibration
generating unit is positioned at the lower central portion.
3. The ultrasonic atomizer of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange
unit further includes a thermal insulation portion which insulates
a peripheral portion of the ultrasonic vibration generating
unit.
4. The ultrasonic atomizer of claim 1, wherein the vortex flow
forming unit is a vortex tube.
5. The ultrasonic atomizer of claim 1, further comprising: a
cooling air discharge unit which is positioned to be inclined to an
upper side of the housing from the vortex chamber, and guides
discharge of the cooling air.
6. The ultrasonic atomizer of claim 3, wherein the thermal
insulation portion further includes a thermal insulator which is
positioned in the thermal insulation chamber and maintains a
constant temperature.
7. The ultrasonic atomizer of claim 1, further comprising: an
ultrasonic wave oscillator which is electrically connected to the
ultrasonic vibration generating unit and generates an output
frequency inputted through electrical energy; a spray material
inlet which is positioned to be exposed to the outside of the
housing at one end of the nozzle unit, and accommodates the spray
material therein; an ultrasonic wave oscillator connecting unit
which is electrically connected to the ultrasonic wave oscillator;
and a temperature sensor connecting unit which is electrically
connected to a temperature sensor that detects a temperature in the
housing.
8. The ultrasonic atomizer of claim 7, wherein the ultrasonic
vibration generating unit includes a plurality of piezoelectric
elements which are electrically connected to the ultrasonic wave
oscillator and convert the output frequency generated by the
ultrasonic wave oscillator into ultrasonic vibrational energy; and
an electrode which transmits an ultrasonic wave.
9. The ultrasonic atomizer of claim 1, wherein the nozzle unit has
a shape that becomes narrower in a direction from an upper side to
a lower side.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] An apparatus for spraying a spray material using ultrasonic
vibration is provided.
[0003] (b) Description of the Related Art
[0004] Pharmaceutical drugs used to treat patients need to be
produced under a clean environment in order to ensure safety. In
particular, an injection contaminated by microorganisms or the like
may have a fatal side effect on human bodies. Thus, all processes
for producing the injection needs to be carried out in an aseptic
state. To maintain the aseptic state when the injection is
produced, a process of sterilizing all machines, which are likely
to come into contact with the products, needs to be carried out
prior to other processes. Further, the aseptic state needs to be
maintained to perform a process of producing the injection. As
sterilization methods generally used for a process of producing
pharmaceutical drugs, there are a high-temperature dry heat
sterilization method and a high-pressure steam sterilization
method.
[0005] A sustained-release microsphere injection is generally
manufactured as a biodegradable polymer microsphere dosage form
containing active materials through a process such as a spray
drying method, an O/W emulsion method, a W/O/W emulsion method, or
a phase separation method.
[0006] When the sustained-release microsphere injection is produced
through the spray drying method, a solution, emulsion, suspension,
or the like, which contains active materials and biodegradable
polymers, may be sprayed in the form of fine droplets into a dryer
by means of an ultrasonic atomizer.
[0007] The ultrasonic atomizer is an apparatus that converts
electrical energy into vibrational energy and provides a spray
material with ultrasonic vibration having an output frequency,
thereby spraying the spray material. In a case in which the spray
material is sprayed by ultrasonic waves, there are advantages in
that droplets have uniform diameters, and excellent and silent
atomization. The ultrasonic atomizer may save energy and prevent
pollution, and may be used even at a location where a flow velocity
is low and at a location where a supply flow rate is low. The
ultrasonic atomizer may be applicable in various industrial fields
such as a process of manufacturing a semiconductor, and fuel
combustion, in addition to the process of manufacturing the
sustained-release microspheres.
[0008] However, in a case in which an ultrasonic element of the
ultrasonic atomizer is exposed to a high temperature, the high
temperature may have an effect on an ultrasonic vibration
generating unit, such that the ultrasonic vibration generating unit
may deteriorate. Therefore, it is important to maintain a constant
temperature of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit. In the
related art, because of these characteristics, the ultrasonic
atomizer is sterilized in a high-pressure steam sterilizer, and
then mounted in a sterilized spray dryer, and then the spray drying
process is carried out. However, because of the work for separately
sterilizing respective apparatuses and then mounting the ultrasonic
atomizer in the spray dryer, the sterilized spray dryer and the
sterilized ultrasonic atomizer may be contaminated again. To solve
the above problems, a method capable of protecting the ultrasonic
element is required when the spray dryer is sterilized through the
high-temperature dry heat sterilization method in a state in which
the ultrasonic atomizer is mounted in the spray dryer.
[0009] The above information disclosed in this Background section
is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the
invention and therefore it may contain information that does not
form the prior art that is already known in this country to a
person of ordinary skill in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In the case of the ultrasonic atomizer in the related art,
the ultrasonic vibrator is cooled by compressed air at room
temperature in order to eliminate heat generated in the ultrasonic
vibrator. However, the cooling effect of the compressed air is very
insignificant in a case in which the ultrasonic atomizer is exposed
to a high temperature of 250.degree. C. or higher. In addition, in
order to obtain a sufficient cooling effect by using the compressed
air, a separate apparatus capable of additionally cooling the air
is required. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention
provides an ultrasonic atomizer which is capable of maintaining a
constant temperature of an ultrasonic vibration generating unit by
decreasing a temperature at the periphery of the ultrasonic
vibration generating unit without constructing a separate
additional apparatus even under an environment in which the
ultrasonic vibration generating unit is exposed to a high
temperature.
[0011] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an
ultrasonic atomizer including: an ultrasonic vibration generating
unit which generates ultrasonic waves and atomizes a spray
material; a nozzle unit which includes a spray flow path in which
the spray material moves along a central axis that penetrates a
center of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit, and includes a
nozzle tip which is supplied with the spray material from one end
of the spray flow path, and sprays the spray material from the
other end of the spray flow path; a heat exchange unit which
surrounds the ultrasonic vibration generating unit and cools heat
generated from the ultrasonic vibration generating unit; and a
housing which surrounds the ultrasonic vibration generating unit
and the heat exchange unit, and has a plurality of heat exchange
chambers therein, in which the a plurality of heat exchange
chambers include: a vortex chamber which is positioned in the
housing at the periphery of the ultrasonic vibration generating
unit, and guides a vortex flow; and a thermal insulation chamber
which surrounds the vortex chamber, has a separation wall which
abuts the vortex chamber, and includes an internal thermal
insulation space.
[0012] A height of a lower central portion of the housing may be
greater than a height of a lower peripheral portion, and a lower
portion of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit may be
positioned on the lower central portion.
[0013] The heat exchange unit may include a cooling portion which
cools the outside of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit, and
a thermal insulation portion which insulates a peripheral portion
of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit. The cooling portion
may include a vortex flow forming unit which has one end exposed to
the outside of the housing, the other end positioned in the vortex
chamber in the housing, and a cooling tube which guides spray of
the cooling air into the ultrasonic vibration generating unit. The
vortex flow forming unit may be formed as a vortex tube. The
ultrasonic atomizer may further include a cooling air discharge
unit which is positioned to be inclined to an upper side of the
housing from the vortex chamber, and guides the discharge of the
cooling air.
[0014] The thermal insulation portion may further include a thermal
insulator which is positioned in the thermal insulation chamber and
maintains a constant temperature.
[0015] The ultrasonic atomizer may further include: an ultrasonic
wave oscillator which is electrically connected to the ultrasonic
vibration generating unit and generates an output frequency
inputted through electrical energy; a spray material inlet which is
positioned to be exposed to the outside of the housing at one end
of the nozzle unit, and accommodates the spray material therein; an
ultrasonic wave oscillator connecting unit which is electrically
connected to the ultrasonic wave oscillator; and a temperature
sensor connecting unit which is electrically connected to a
temperature sensor that detects a temperature in the housing.
[0016] The ultrasonic vibration generating unit may include a
plurality of piezoelectric elements which are electrically
connected to the ultrasonic wave oscillator and convert an output
frequency generated by the ultrasonic wave oscillator into
ultrasonic vibrational energy; and an electrode which transmits an
ultrasonic wave. The nozzle unit may have a shape that becomes
narrower in a direction from an upper side to a lower side.
Advantageous Effects
[0017] It is possible to maintain a constant temperature at the
periphery of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit even under an
environment in which the ultrasonic vibration generating unit is
exposed to a high temperature.
[0018] In addition, even though the ultrasonic atomizer is used
over a long period of time, it is possible to stably spray the
spray material without changes in characteristics.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a perspective view of an
ultrasonic atomizer according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically
illustrating the ultrasonic atomizer according to the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state in which a thermal
insulator is omitted from a thermal insulation chamber of the
ultrasonic atomizer according to the exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating a flow of
cooling air in a vortex chamber of the ultrasonic atomizer
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The technical terms used herein are merely for the purpose
of describing a specific exemplary embodiment, and are not intended
to limit the present invention. Singular expressions used herein
include plural expressions unless they have definitely opposite
meanings. The terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" used in the
specification specify particular features, regions, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of other particular features, regions
integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups
thereof.
[0024] All terms used herein including technical or scientific
terms have the same meanings as meanings which are generally
understood by those skilled in the art unless they are differently
defined. Terms defined in advance shall be construed such that they
have meanings matching those in the context of a related art, and
shall not be construed as having ideal or excessively formal
meanings unless they are clearly defined in the present
application.
[0025] The present invention will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled
in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified
in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or
scope of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a perspective view of an
ultrasonic atomizer according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view
schematically illustrating the ultrasonic atomizer 10 according to
the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates
coupling relationships among an ultrasonic vibration generating
unit 102, a nozzle unit 106, a heat exchange unit, and a housing
100. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state in which a thermal
insulator 130 is omitted from a thermal insulation chamber 132 of
the ultrasonic atomizer 10, and FIG. 4 is a view schematically
illustrating a flow of cooling air 126 in a vortex chamber 124 of
the ultrasonic atomizer 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of
the present invention.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the ultrasonic atomizer 10
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention
includes the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102, the nozzle
unit 106, the heat exchange unit, and the housing 100. The
ultrasonic atomizer 10 includes a cooling system which is capable
of protecting the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102
positioned in the ultrasonic atomizer 10 from a high temperature
even if the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 is exposed to
a high temperature of 250.degree. C. or higher over a long period
of time during a spray drying process or an aseptic process which
manufactures foods and pharmaceutical drugs in the form of fine
particles by spraying and drying a solution, emulsion, or
suspension by using ultrasonic waves. Even if a high-temperature
dry heat sterilization method is carried out by the spray dryer in
a state in which an ultrasonic spray nozzle is mounted in the
ultrasonic atomizer 10, it is possible to protect electronic
characteristics of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit
102.
[0028] The ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 includes an
ultrasonic vibrator which generates ultrasonic waves and atomizes a
spray material. The ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 may
have a cylindrical structure. The ultrasonic vibration generating
unit 102 includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are
electrically connected to an ultrasonic wave oscillator (not
illustrated) and convert an output frequency generated by the
ultrasonic wave oscillator into ultrasonic vibrational energy, and
an electrode which transmits an ultrasonic wave. The plurality of
piezoelectric elements and the electrodes may be stacked and
interposed in a hollow shape.
[0029] The nozzle unit 106 includes a spray flow path in which the
spray material moves along a central axis that penetrates a center
of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102. The nozzle unit
106 includes a nozzle tip which is supplied with the spray material
from one end of the spray flow path, and sprays the spray material
atomized by the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 from the
other end of the spray flow path. The nozzle unit 106 may have a
shape that becomes narrower in a direction from an upper side to a
lower side, and may spray the spray material by increasing
amplitude and output of the spray material vibrated by the
ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102.
[0030] The heat exchange unit surrounds the ultrasonic vibration
generating unit 102, thereby cooling heat generated from the
ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102. The heat exchange unit
includes a cooling portion which cools an outer side of the
ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102, and a thermal insulation
portion which thermally insulates a peripheral portion of the
ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102. Each of the heat exchange
unit, the cooling portion, and the thermal insulation portion may
have a cylindrical structure. One end of the cooling portion is
exposed to the outside of the housing 100, the other end of the
cooling portion is positioned in the vortex chamber 124 in the
housing 100, and the heat exchange unit includes a vortex flow
forming unit 120 which has a cooling tube 122 that guides the spray
of the cooling air 126 to the ultrasonic vibration generating unit
102. The vortex chamber 124 may have a cylindrical structure. The
vortex flow forming unit 120 may form a vortex tube. The vortex
tube is used as a cooling device, the compressed air flowing into
the vortex tube rotates at a high speed, and with vortex air
generated at this time, cool air is discharged into the vortex
chamber 124 through the cooling tube 122.
[0031] The cooling air 126, which has sprayed into the vortex
chamber 124 through the vortex tube, cools the heated ultrasonic
vibration generating unit 102, and then is discharged to the
outside. To this end, a cooling air discharge unit 110 is further
included in the housing 100. The cooling air discharge unit 110 is
positioned to be inclined to an upper side of the housing 100 from
the vortex chamber 124, and guides the discharge of the cooling air
126 which is sprayed from the vortex flow forming unit 120 and
cools the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102.
[0032] The thermal insulation portion may further include the
thermal insulator 130 which is positioned in the thermal insulation
chamber 132 and maintains a constant temperature. Each of the
thermal insulation chamber 132 and the thermal insulator 130 may
have a cylindrical structure. The thermal insulator 130 serves to
prevent heat at the periphery of the ultrasonic vibration
generating unit 102 from being transferred to the outside. The
thermal insulator 130 may be implemented as a product such as
asbestos, glass wool, quartz wool, diatomite, magnesium carbonate
powder, magnesia powder, calcium silicate, and pearlite, including
air remaining in the thermal insulation chamber 132. The thermal
insulator 130 may be made of a material with low thermal
conductivity, or the thermal insulator 130 may be made of a porous
material to reduce thermal conductivity as necessary, and may use
thermal insulation properties of air in the pores. The thermal
insulator 130 may be made of an organic material or an inorganic
material. If the material of the thermal insulator 130 satisfies a
condition that it endures a temperature at the periphery of the
ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 like the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, a single material or mixed
materials may be used as the material of the thermal insulator
130.
[0033] The housing 100 surrounds the nozzle unit 106, which is
opened at a nozzle tip portion, the ultrasonic vibration generating
unit 102, and the heat exchange unit, and has a plurality of heat
exchange chambers 124 and 132 therein. The housing 100 may have a
cylindrical structure which has an upper portion covered by a
flange, a central portion of a lower portion concavely formed, and
a hollow space. The plurality of heat exchange chambers 124 and 132
include the vortex chamber 124, and the thermal insulation chamber
132. The vortex chamber 124 is a vortex flow forming space which is
positioned in the housing 100 at the periphery of the ultrasonic
vibration generating unit 102, and guides a vortex flow. At a
central portion of the housing 100, the vortex chamber 124 has a
longer length than the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102. A
protective wall 103 is formed at a lower side of the vortex chamber
124 which surrounds the nozzle unit 106. The cooling air 126, which
is sprayed into the vortex chamber 124, surrounds the ultrasonic
vibration generating unit 102, thereby sufficiently cooling the
heated ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102. At a side of the
housing 100, the thermal insulation chamber 132 has a separation
wall 101 which abuts the vortex chamber 124, and includes a thermal
insulation space. The thermal insulation chamber 132 has a shape
that surrounds the vortex chamber 124 at an outer wall inside the
housing 100, and extends in a longitudinal direction of the housing
100. Since the thermal insulator 130 is interposed in the thermal
insulation chamber 132, it is possible to constantly maintain the
lowered temperature in the vortex chamber 124.
[0034] A height of a lower central portion of the housing 100 where
the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 is positioned is
greater than a lower peripheral portion of the housing 100, and a
lower portion of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 is
positioned on the lower central portion and surrounded by the lower
peripheral portion. That is, the lower portion of the housing 100
has a shape such that a central portion at which the ultrasonic
vibration generating unit 102 is positioned is concavely formed. By
minimizing the exposure of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit
102 to the outside, it is possible to reduce an effect of heat that
may be transmitted from a peripheral environment to the ultrasonic
vibration generating unit 102. The lower portion of the housing 100
is concavely formed so that the ultrasonic vibration generating
unit 102 is positioned inside the housing 100, thereby maximizing
cooling efficiency of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit
102.
[0035] Meanwhile, the ultrasonic atomizer 10 according to the
exemplary embodiment of the present invention further includes an
ultrasonic wave oscillator, a spray material inlet 104, an
ultrasonic wave oscillator connecting unit 112, a temperature
sensor connecting unit 114. The ultrasonic wave oscillator is
electrically connected to the ultrasonic vibration generating unit
102 and generates an output frequency inputted through electrical
energy. The spray material inlet 104 is positioned to be exposed to
the outside of the housing 100 at one end of the nozzle unit 106,
and accommodates the spray material therein. The ultrasonic wave
oscillator connecting unit 112 is a connecting unit electrically
connected to the ultrasonic wave oscillator. The temperature sensor
connecting unit 114 is a connecting unit electrically connected to
a temperature sensor that detects a temperature in the housing
100.
[0036] A cooling operation and a thermal insulation operation of
the ultrasonic atomizer 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1
to 4.
[0037] When the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 is exposed
to a high temperature of 200.degree. C. or higher, electronic
characteristics of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 are
lost, such that the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 cannot
be normally operated. When the ultrasonic vibration generating unit
102 is in contact with heat of a high temperature, a frequency
decreases due to an increase in temperature, and an electrostatic
capacity increases, such that normal ultrasonic wave oscillation
cannot occur. Therefore, a temperature at the periphery of the
ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 needs to be constantly
maintained. For example, in a case in which an aseptic injection is
produced during a process of manufacturing a sustained-release
microsphere injection, the ultrasonic nozzle is sterilized in an
autoclave, and then mounted in the spray dryer. However, because
there is a risk that facilities will be contaminated because of
this work, the spray dryer needs to be sterilized (dry heat
sterilization) in a state in which the ultrasonic nozzle is
mounted. That is, a method, which may protect the ultrasonic
vibration generating unit 102 even at a high-temperature dry heat
sterilization temperature of 250.degree. C. or higher is
required.
[0038] The exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides
the ultrasonic atomizer 10 which may protect the ultrasonic
vibration generating unit 102 even at a high-temperature dry heat
sterilization temperature or higher. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the
cooling air 126 is sprayed into the vortex chamber 124 in a state
in which the vortex tube is mounted and the thermal insulator 130
is interposed in the housing 100 provided with the vortex chamber
124 and the thermal insulation chamber 132. Further, the heated
ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 may be cooled and thermal
insulation may be maintained by the function of the thermal
insulator 130 interposed at the periphery of the vortex chamber
124.
[0039] First, operations of cooling the ultrasonic atomizer 10 and
maintaining thermal insulation will be described on the assumption
that the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 is heated. In a
state in which the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 is
heated, the cooling air 126 is discharged in a direction of the
ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 through the cooling tube
122 of the vortex tube provided in the vortex chamber 124 in the
housing 100. The cooling air 126 discharged to the ultrasonic
vibration generating unit 102 is used as a coolant for cooling the
heated ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102. The cooling air
126 performs a cooling operation in accordance with an air stream
formed in the vortex chamber 124, and is discharged to the outside
of the housing 100 through the cooling air discharge unit 110. In
this case, the thermal insulator 130 serves to constantly maintain
the lowered temperature in the vortex chamber 124. Therefore, it is
possible to prevent heat generated in the ultrasonic vibration
generating unit 102 from being transferred to the outside of the
housing 100, and a temperature of the ultrasonic vibration
generating unit 102 does not increase because of a cooling
operation of the cooling air 126 between the ultrasonic vibration
generating unit 102 positioned in the vortex chamber 124 and the
housing 100, and as a result, it is possible to improve cooling
efficiency of the ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102.
[0040] As described above, in a case in which cool air at a
temperature of 10.degree. C. or lower is supplied into the vortex
chamber 124 though the vortex tube by using dry air at the room
temperature when a process of sterilizing the ultrasonic atomizer
10 is carried out, it is possible to protect the ultrasonic
vibration generating unit 102 so that the ultrasonic vibration
generating unit 102 is prevented from being exposed to a high
temperature even though the outside of the housing 100 is exposed
to a high temperature of 200.degree. C. or higher. The ultrasonic
atomizer 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention may be sterilized by the high-temperature dry heat
sterilization, and with the combined configurations of the cooling
portion and the thermal insulator 130, the ultrasonic atomizer 10
may stably spray the spray material without changes in
characteristics despite use over a long period of time by
maintaining a constant temperature at the periphery of the
ultrasonic vibration generating unit 102 even under an environment
in which the ultrasonic atomizer 10 is exposed to a high
temperature.
[0041] The exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but those
skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may
be implemented in other specific forms without changing the
technical spirit or an essential feature thereof. For example, the
present invention may further include an auxiliary housing which
surrounds the entirety of the housing 100 to protect the housing
100 from an external environment, and may more effectively maintain
a temperature at the periphery of the ultrasonic vibration
generating unit 102. Of course, the auxiliary housing also belongs
to the scope of the present invention.
[0042] Thus, it should be appreciated that the exemplary
embodiments described above are intended to be illustrative in
every sense, and not restrictive. The scope of the present
invention is represented by the claims to be described below rather
than the detailed description, and it should be interpreted that
all the changes or modified forms, which are derived from the
meaning and the scope of the claims, and the equivalents thereto,
are included in the scope of the present invention.
[0043] While this invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments,
it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the
disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover
various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within
the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *